The Oyo State Government has enrolled about 10,000 basic school pupils from 90 schools across 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state’s healthcare insurance scheme.
Presenting the insurance scheme ID cards at an event held at the Ibadan Civic Center, Idi-ape, Ibadan, the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, disclosed that the enrolment was part of the state government’s effort towards ensuring its pupils are of sound minds, while they learn in conducive environments.
Lawal applauded the partnership and collaboration between the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) and the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB) in providing healthcare opportunities and securing a brighter future for public school children in the state.
The Deputy Governor also charged OYSHIA to double its efforts in extending the scheme to every school in the state, urging parents and guardians to key into the scheme.
In her goodwill message, the Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Ms Celine Lafoucriere, noted that the launch of the Oyo State Public Primary School Pupils Health Insurance Scheme, will give access to affordable, quality healthcare; a fundamental right for every child.
She said, “This initiative reinforces our collective commitment to universal health coverage, ensuring that no child faces financial obstacles to accessing healthcare. Universal health coverage is more than a healthcare goal, it’s a social and economic necessity.”
Lafoucriere explained that when children have access to healthcare, they can focus on education, grow into productive adults, break the cycle of poverty, and contribute to the success of Oyo State and Nigeria as exemplified through the scheme by focusing on public primary school children, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
“With 90 schools already enrolled across 18 LGAs, our goal is to ensure all 33 LGAs in Oyo state are covered, leaving no child behind. UNICEF remains steadfast in supporting the government and communities toward universal health coverage,” the UNICEF Chief stated.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, applauded OYSHIA and Oyo SUBEB for their commitment towards healthy basic school pupils, assuring the agencies of her Ministry’s unparalleled commitment to the scheme.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman, Oyo SUBEB, Dr Nureni Adeniran, applauded OYSHIA, pledging the Board’s commitment to the smooth take-off and sustainability of the scheme.
Adeniran said, “At Oyo SUBEB, we operate on the principle of taking care of the pupils under our care as though they are ours.”
He disclosed that the scheme would enable the beneficiaries to receive quality healthcare without paying exorbitantly to access it.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, OYSHIA, Dr Olusola Akande, said the new door being opened is focusing on providing access to healthcare for 10,000 public primary school pupils in the first instance, noting that the agency will also commence an enrollment of additional 5,500 pupils into the scheme after a week.
Akande applauded UNICEF, through whose support the Agency has been able to improve on its awareness campaign and increased the communities under Community Based Health Insurance scheme by 100 percent.
He equally stressed the unparalleled commitment of the SUBEB chairman to the scheme, saying, “His open door policy and unrestricted access ensured we were able to keep to our time line.”
The event was attended by relevant stakeholders in the health and education sectors, including the pupils.
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